It would be difficult to come up with a list of the greatest hits of Johann Sebastian Bach and not include Sheep May Safely Graze. The piece will be familiar to almost everyone (particularly wedding guests!) although most will not know its origin as a soprano aria from the Hunting Cantata BWV 208. This arrangement by Gary Spolding for four guitars or guitar orchestra stays relatively true to Bach’s original, keeping the two ‘pastoral’ recorder parts exclusively in Guitars 1 & 2, the unharmonised continuo in Guitar 4, leaving Guitar 3 to play the aria melody, all transposed from the original Bb to a more guitar friendly key of G.

Lasting approx. 4 minutes, the arrangement will suit an ambitious and enthusiastic group of guitarists who have reached grade 2 to 4 standard. Guitar 3 (the aria melody) lies entirely within the stave, has a smattering of accidentals and is accessible to a player of around ABRSM Grade 2 standard. Guitar 4 is also not difficult but does require a player who can read ledger lines below the stave. Guitars 1 & 2 require a more accomplished ability, having position shifts on strings 1 and 2 along with quick slurs.

If you work in education, this arrangement has these useful features…
- position shifts
- demisemiquaver slurs
- a D.C. al Fine
- some of the most beautiful and inventive harmony that can be crated by 4 contrapuntal lines

This piece is one in a series of arrangements by Gary Spolding for beginner guitar ensembles. Each arrangement has at least one guitar part that is accessible to a player of ABRSM grade 2 standard and the other parts are never more difficult than grade 4. They can be performed as guitar quartets with one player to a part or by guitar orchestra with multiple players per part making them ideal for guitar societies or school concerts.

If you like the look of this arrangement then Denza’s Funiculì, Funiculà may also be of interest.

3 page score and separate parts each 1 page
Grade 2-4
£6 as a pdf
Not available as a book
LMP 215